I was born 54 years ago in a Naval Hospital in California, and grew up as a “Navy Brat”, living in a number of places as a child, including the island of Taiwan.

I spent my teenage years in a small neighborhood in southern California, only a few miles from the Mexican border.

I held a number of jobs in my youth – everything from flipping hamburgers to turning wrenches as a mechanic, and even driving a gas truck for a while. Late in life (later than most anyhow) I chose to join the Navy myself, ending up a member of the Navy’s Submarine Force for slightly more than 7 years. I’ve been just about everywhere there is to go in the Pacific (compliments of Uncle Sam) at least once, most places more than that. I left the Navy on a medical retirement in 1988.

I’ve lived in a number of different places and states, some of which include California, Washington, Hawaii, Guam, and Japan (for a very short period), and now Florida.

My current plan is to venture to Europe – just for something to do. If I like it, it too may end up on the list of places I’ve lived.

Although writing is one of my passions (the other being photography), I do have a ‘real’ job – working as a Veteran’s Advocate, assisting military veterans in acquiring their Veterans Administration Benefits after discharge from the service.

I currently live in Gainesville, FL, a short distance from the University of Florida (GO GATORS!).